Vacuum cleaner



Aug. 21, 1951 c. H. sPARKLxN 2,564,734

VACUUM CLEANER Filed Oct. 27, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 2l, 1951 c. H. sPARKLlN VACUUM CLEANER 4 -Sheets-Shee'rl 2 Filed Oct. 27, 1948 Aug. 21, 1951 c. H. sPARKLlN VACUUM CLEANER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 27, 1948 1595 l @J F h Z @u M Z 1.4M: 5 1 g Z] 1 Z a@ M J ,E o; /k W U W m z3 M J m 3 w l 6 W im |1| M E 9 @m5 m H W c. H. sPARKLlN VACUUMl CLEANER Aug. 21, 1951 l Filed Oct.' 27, 1948 4 Sheets--Sheei'I 4 Patented Aug. 21, 1.951

VACUUM CLEANER.

Charles H. Sparklin, Chicago, Ill., vas'signor to Birtman vElectric Company, Ya corporation of Illinois Application October 27, 1948, Snerial o. 56,802

This invention relates tov a vacuum cleaner having a dirt separatingmember therein, and relates particularly to such a vacuum cleaner having means for agitating said separating member for loosening embedded dirt.

In those vacuum cleaners employing a dirt separating member, such as a filter screen, and means for drawing air through the screen, it has been found that theoscreen gradually becomes packed with dirt `so that the back pressure through the screen is raised vto the point where anvappreciable additional load is placed on the motor which is used in driving a fan for drawing air through the screen. This accumulated dirt reducesV the efficiency of the cleaner and causes undue strain on thescreen.

The present -invention is primarily concerned with an automatically operated means for agitating the dirt separating member, such as a screen, so that the embedded dirt is jarred loose and permitted to fall into a dirt receptacle. The agitating means of this invention is completely automatic in operation and means are provided so that the agitating means is operated only when a relatively small amount of air is being drawn through the screen. This arrangement is provided so that the air stream through the screen will not be sufficiently great to draw the displaced dirt back into the screen. The agitating means comprises a resilient means arranged adjacent the screen and means operable bythe rotation of the motor or similar rotating means for first drawing the resilient means away from the separating member and then permitting the resilient means to snap back against the separating member. Means are provided for actuating the operating means only when the motor is operating at a relatively low speed that is below the normal speed thereof.

The invention willbe described as related tor .tating means in raised position; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan .view of the operating cam and associated parts of the invention showing the cam in one position; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the cam in another position; Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken along line 6 6 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation 'through the friction clutch employed in driving operating parts of the invention; Fig. 8 is a 7 Claims. (Cl. 1834-58) ,section taken along line 8- 8 of Fig. 7; and Fig. 4,9 isa section taken along line 9 9 of Fig. 7. y In the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, the vacuum cleaner comprises a lower portion I0 forminga dirt receptacle and having an open top,l an upper portion Il having an open bottom adapted to rest on the top of the lower'portion I6,a motor casing I2 mounted on the upper portion II, a :motor I3 held in a resilient mounting I4 withinthe casing I2, a suction fan I5 mounted on vthe motor shaft I3a, and -a Vflexible dirt separating member I6 stretched across the open bottom of the upper casing Aportion II. Thelower and upper casing portions are preferably separated by a resilient gaslfzetV I'I arranged therebetween. The lower casing portion III is provided with ,a holey Illa through which an attachment may be inserted and.v held in a coupling link I8 that is provided with an annular groove |8a around the inner surface thereof. This coupling link'l and groove I8a may be used in attaching a flexible. hose carryingmthe usual wand. Dirt laden air will then be carried 'through the wand and hose intovthe interior of the vcleaner casing and the air will then be drawn through the dirt separating member I6 for'separating the dirt therefrom. In order to direct the dirt laden air stream upwardly toward the dirt separating member and prevent undue agitation of the dirt on the bottom of the lower casing por.- tion I6, thereis provided a baie I9 in the lower casing portion spaced from the inner end of the coupling link I3 and extending from the bottom of the casing to a position below the dirt separating member I6. In order to agitate the dirt vseparating member I6, which may be a flexible cloth screen or the like, there is provided a resilient meansadjacentto the screen I6 and immediately above it..A This resilient means in the embodiment shown `comprises a closed ring 2,0 located approximately centrally of the screen I6, Vand'connected to the upper casing portion I I by a series of coil springs 2|. In the embodiment 'shown' each coil spring isfattached to a bracket 22 in a corner of the casing portion II andto an adjacent portion of the ring 20. These springs 2| urge the ring 26 against the top surface of the screen I6. y I

In order to operate the resilient means, there is provideda vlongitudinally movablebar mem;- ber 23 arranged adjacent and substantially parallel to the.y screen I6 with this vbar member .arrangedfs'ubstantially centrally of the upper `casing vportion Il and extending-from adjacent one wall thereof to beyond; the midpoint-thereof. T he end of the bar member 23 that is adjacent one wall of the casing is provided with an upwardly extending bracket 23a to which is rotatably attached one end of an arm 24. The other end of the arm 24 is fastened to a bar 25 that is arranged substantially parallel to the screen I6. Each end of this bar 25 is rotatably held in a bracket 26 mounted on the inner surface of the upper casing portion II. Adjacent "each end of the bar 25 there is located a strap 2'I extending from an end of the bar member to a corresponding side of the ring 20. Each strap is fixed to the bar 25 for rotation therewith and is rotatably attached to the strap. With this arrangement the-arm 24, bar 25 and straps 21 function as "a bellcranlr so that when the bar member` 23 is moved longitudinally to the left, as shown m'Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the ring 20 is raised from the screen I6 against the urgings of the springs 2 I.

In order to move the A"bar member 23 and thus operate the agitating means, there is-provided a friction clutch 28 attached y'to the lower -end of the motor shaft I3a beyond the fan I5. This rclutch provides means-for operating the agitating means when Vthe speed of rotation of the clutch is less than -a predetermined maximum `which is -less than the lspeed equivalent to -the normal operating speed `of the motor I3. The lower end of the clutch 28 is provided with a pinion 29 which lis meshed `with a circular gear `"30. This circulargear is lrotatably mounted on a bracketplate 3I that is `attached to the Abottom of the fan casing, as shown in Fig. 1. This circular gear-30 vis mountedon the bracket plate 3| by means Yof'aspaced'hub 32. This jspacer `hub 32 is Vprovided withan enlarged section :32a arranged against the gear 30 which serves as reinforcement-for Athe gear. fMounted-on the bottom-of the gear 38, but separated therefrom by a spacer33, is aYspiral cam plate 3.4.` The cam -plate isrotated'withfthe:gear 30 'and has-the cam srface ofthe lcamplatelbearinglagainst a roller 35. This roller 'is'held byjthejtwo substantially circular straps V4'36,' with these straps Lbeing held lapart by spacers 31 Vand "38. Theroller 35 is v located at one endfof the straps 36,and the lower- {moststrap is rotatably attached-to the longi- 1'tudi'nally -movable 'barmember 2-3. The other V`vend-of the straps '36 is-rotatably attached to 'the bracket plate 3I by means ofasecond Aspacer Ihubas. v l

The spiralcam jplate -34 'has a cam surface thereon extendinglslightly more than 360. VThis "carnsurface has-its innermost A'end and its outer- `most end connected by aflat section34a thatis inclined'so thatwhen the roller 35 rolls beyond Athe outermostportionof the cam surface it is imvimmediately drawn down onto the innermost portlonof the cam surface. This arrangement is `provided so that lthesprings 2| will cause'the 'ring-20-to'be snapped sharply against the lscreen jI6. In order to insure this action, there is projyided a downwardly-extending pin 40 attached Atolthe bottom surface ofthegear 30 with this i pin- 'engaginga-slot 34h in the carriplate 34.

The particular fric'tionj clutch 28 shownin the drawings comprises a hollow substantially cylindrical casing 4I open atthe bottom and-having lits top iportionattached'to fthemotorjshaft I3a 'for rotation therewith. locatedV within-thecasing '4I ilr'd spacedinwardly from the inner surface 'of the v4outer 'walls thereof, `there ispro'vided af first Vjclutch-member`42 also mountedfor'rotation with Lthe shaft I-3`a and a -jsecon'd I clutch member 43 lhat() fwhich the shaft lisa; extends, ybut which is friction members n46. y

onthestu'ds49 during the radial movement of th ings 44 held in a housing "45. VThis arrangement permits substantially frictionless rotation of the shaft I3a within the second clutch 43 when the 'clutch is disengaged. In order to engage and disengage the clutch members, there is provided a pair of friction members 46 arranged around the outer surfaces of the first and second clutch member 42 and '43 and within the hollow casing 4I. These friction members 46, when in assembled relationship, are arranged loosely within the casing 4I so that each may be moved radially to `grip and release the outer surfaces of the clutch members 42 and 43. fAs shown in Fig. 9, each member 46 has substantially semicircular inner and'outer surfaces. The two-friotion members 46 are urged against the outer surfaces of the nrst'and 'second clutch members 42 and 43 by alpair of coil springs 4l and 48, with these coil springs being substantially parallel to each other, but spaced apart. The upper coil spring is located opposite the outer surface of the first clutch member 42'and is held in a groove 46a near the top of the friction members 46. The bottom coil spring 48 is located opposite the outer surfaceof the -second clutch member 43 and is held in alsimilargroove 46h. As is shown in Fig. 8, with respect to spring 48, each of the springs 41 and -48 have their ends interlocked so as tobe continuousaround the friction members 46. lThe tension of the springs `4`I and 48 Ais so "reg-ulatedthat when Vthe motor is not operating, the springs hold the friction members 46 against the clutch^membersl42 and 43. When the motor isstartedfthe clutch members 42 and 43 are rotated as'a -unit until a predetermined maximum-speedlhasbeen reached. This predeterminedmaximum speed, which is controlled by the tensionofthesprings land 48, is less than the operating-speed'ofthe motor. As soon -as this-predetermined rmaximum speed is exceeded, centrifugal Vforce'acting on the members l46 causes the friction members to move awayffrom'th'e clutch -members42 and A43 and against the'inner'surface oflthe casing 4I. This outwardmovement of the friction members releases the second clutchmember43 so that the clutch stops rotating. The first friction memof'st'uds49 located'diametrically opposite each ..65

other and held in thehousing V4I in sliding engagementwith openings provided'in the friction The 'friction members slide freely Vrotation of the pinion 29- causes rotation of the gear-38 which inf turn frotates the cam plate 34. YThis cam plate-'rotates ina counterclockwise dlgages theslot Sil-bin the camyplategl,,thisfprr sition, the rol-ler 35,fa;t ,theend of, ther bar-,.mem-f berf 23 is fat iits-V greatestidistancef-gfrom; the .centen of rotation of the cam plates 34, asts hcgrwgcij:inlig;

. Further rotation of l thgeen1 plate/.3,4 4releases the-y roller with the A resultthat ,theA springs 2 I snap thef ring 2ll-I down againstsiihl: screen'., I6;- and thereby jar loose embedded dirt. As; the v at'section ,flonthecamplate 34 slopes inwardly and rearwardly, the downward movement of the ring 20 is substantiallyunretarded. This unretardedmovement is also .aided bythefslot ,34h

in th cam 'plate as the roller lrolling;,oventhe-` point of the cam plate causes the cani plate to be rotated until the-pirl- 40lisf-attheopposite end of the slotg314b. 1

Asfthamotor rsaeceieraies; thenng z 0-werbe repeatedly: beaten ag ainst-thef; screen I6 in: the

manner. previously describedzluntili the speed of the', motorN attains the predetermined maximum speed that: is controlled byrthe tensionf` of" the springsd'l, and 48 Within the1friction clntehZB As soon as this predetermined speed as been exceeded, the clutch member 43 is released by the friction members 46 so that the rotation of the clutch member 43 is stopped. This stops the operation of the agitating means. As soon as the motor is turned off the speed thereof drops so that when the speed has fallen to the predetermined maximum speed the agitating means is again operated until the motor comes to a complete stop.

With the above described apparatus, the lter screen of the vacuum cleaner is agitated for a short time immediately after the motor of the vacuum cleaner is turned on and immediately after the motor is turned olf. When the motor is operating at the normal speed, however, the agitating means will not be operated. The extent of the agitation of the lter screen can be controlled by regulating the predetermined speed at which the friction clutch causes operation of the agitating means. This predetermined speed can be controlled by regulating the weight of the friction members 46 or the tension of the springs 41 and 48, or both. This predetermined speedA is preferably maintained at a relatively low value so that the filter screen will be agitated only when the suction is very low. When the suction is low there is less danger of the displaced dirt being drawn back into the filter screen.

In one embodiment of the invention, it was found that an ordinary lter cloth had a back pressure of approximately three inches of water when the cloth was clean. When no means were provided for agitating this cloth, this back pressure gradually built up to approximately thirty inches of water or more as more and more dirt became embedded in the cloth. With the agitating means of this invention, however, it was discovered that after each operation of the cleaner the back pressure of the cloth was returned to 6, eeemximatelx;theorieinahvalueefltmeeiinces of `ive-tersa.Tharkuwfbauik pressurencausesam. cleaner o ioperate:atduuieibiencyfattalltimese;

The frictionfgclutch a 28.- sho wn and?, descriltied:v hereinis preferred-, Thisfgclutcbz.isrfshownedea; scribedandclaimeddn.mycopendine application; Serial-.No.- Y 56,801-, filed October .27;1 19,48. g HciwaI ever., it is; believed-jf obyious that ranys vequivale1-1t. clutch mechanism; couldbe employed; in aniagifY tating; means of thee type shownl and z, describe'adzv herein- I l Having;4 described; my; inventionr; asi: related; tot, the embodiment set, 'out hereinI itA i's my intent-,f tion y that I thef invention fbe fnotlimited b'yranyzofi thegdetailssof descriptiox,ry vunless@.tlierw-isefspeciai fledbutfrather be .f construeds broadly? within.: itszg spirit:- ande scope: asf; set. outa inzthei` accompanyinzi Claiimsr; K C Y f 1; In@= a. vacuum v cleaner comprisingv aifzdirta separatingmemberfandmeans including? :emotom and-,a fan :operated lthereby;` toedraw: air; thrtn-iglrr; saidmember; me-ansLfor; agitatinga said members comprising: a: resilient; meansgarrangedi adj acent'. the zijseparating: member, a; vmovable -member=,faz; leverfhavingzzoneeportionzattached `vto the r movablei member.: and. another portiont attached'k to. theaA resilient", means; for; Inxrfing.,` the resilientoneansi away from the3 separating:v member whensaidi movable',y member'.` isf:- movedv` in one' drectiom automaticallypperated i friction clutchhaving as rotatable; clutch'. memberr operatively:- attached: to' athee motor.: and 1a; second-iclutch member:nor-a mally engagingzthrstclutch member for rot .Y tion.-v therewithnbut': becominge: disengaged thereee. from above a predetermined speed that is less than the speed equivalent to the normal operating speed of the motor, and a rotatable cam member operatively connected to said second clutch member and having a spiral cam surface bearing against said movable member for moving said member in said one direction and then substantially releasing it to permit the resilient means to snap against the separating member.

2. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a dirt separating member and means including a motor and a fan operated thereby to draw air through said member, means for agitating said member comprising a resilient means arranged adjacent the separating member, a member movable longitudinally in a path substantially parallel to said separating member, a bell crank rotatably mounted about a fulcrum and having one arm operatively attached to the movable member and another arm operatively attached to the resilient means so that the resilient means is forced away from the separating member when said movable member is moved in one direction, an automatically operated friction clutch having a rotatable clutch member operatively attached to the motor and a second clutch member normally engaging the first clutch member for rotation therewith but becoming disengaged therefrom after a predetermined speed that is less than the speed requivalent to the normal operating speed of the motor, and a rotatable cam member operatively connected to said second clutch and having a spiral cam surface of slightly more than 360 bearing against said movable member for moving said member in said one direction to the end of said path and then substantially releasing the movable member to permit the resilient means to snap against the separating member and move the movable member to the other end of said path.

3. Ina .vacuumcleaner comprising a dirt separatingzmember and rotary means including a fan for drawing air therethrough, apparatus Vfor agitatingthe.y dirtV separating member comprising agitating 'means 4including a resilient member, said means being located adjacent thef dirt-separating member, /means for rst drawing the agitatingv meansaway from therdirt separating member and then releasing it toV snap against said. memberl including `a rotatable member, and

a connector between said rotary means and rotatable member for operating. the agitating means when the rotary means including the fan `is rotated, said connectorincluding a speed-responsive device releasingsaid rotatable member at a predetermined speed of said rotary means that is less than the normal'operating speed thereof.

4. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a dirt separating member and rotary means including a fam-for drawing air through said member, apparatus for agitating said member comprising a resilient means adjacent the separating member, a movable member operatively connected to said resilient means Vfor moving vthe resilient means away from the dirt separating member, lever means operatively connected to said movable member for moving the resilient means and movable member away from the separating member when said lever means is moved in one direction, a rotatable member operatively connected to the lever means for first moving said lever means in said one direction and then releasing said lever means, movable member and resilient means to cause the resilient means to snap against the dirt separating member, and a con- I iectorV between said rotary means and said rotat" able member for rotating said rotatable member and thus operating said agitatingapparatus, said connector including la speed responsive device releasing said rotatable member at a predetermined speed of said rotary means that'is less than the normal operating speed thereof.

5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 4 wherein said connector includes a centrifugally-operated friction clutch releasableat saidV predetermined speed.

6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 4 wherein said lever means comprises a bell crank having one arm rotatably attached to the movable member and the other arm Vrotatably attached to the resilient means.

7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 4 wherein said rotatable means for moving and releasing saidV movable member comprises a rotatable cam member.

CHARLES H. SPARKLIN.

REFERENCES CITED 'The following references are of record in the l' ille o f this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,621,824 Boesger Mar. 22, 1927 1,715,273 Billings May 28, 1929 2,242,277 Yonkers May 20, 1941 2,372,944 Forsberg Apr. 3, 1945 2,443,162 Hallock June 8, 1948 2,464,675 Dodge Mar. 15, 1949 

